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We let you know last month that your Florida OT license renewal deadline has been extended and is now due by midnight on June 30, 2019. Click here for more info on the extension. Since then, many questions have been asked about how this will work.

Here’s the gist of it: If you have not completed all 26 of your required hours by 2/28, you’ll have until 6/30 to do so. If you have, any courses you take 3/1 forward will count toward your next renewal.

Brent Cheyne, OTD, OTR/L, FOTA President advises: “I recommend that every OT practitioner do their best to complete all the necessary CEs and to renew their license as soon as possible. This licensure renewal extension was intended for those suffering hardship and delays related to the Hurricane, and it was not intended to be taken advantage of by the whole of OT professionals in the state. You can avoid any undue complications, or unforeseen difficulties by renewing before the original date.”

You can take the same required courses (medical errors & laws/rules) each renewal period. The board considers it a “refresh” of the knowledge.

We report to CE Broker for you – so you don’t have to! All courses are reported within a few days of completion.

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Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

On October 7, 2018, Governor Rick Scott issued an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency in Florida, for Hurricane Michael.

The Florida Department of Health, in accordance with Executive Order number 18-276 and Executive Order number 18-277, has therefore extended license expiration deadlines for Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapy Assistants (February 28, 2019) to midnight on June 30, 2019. Unless another extension is granted, any active license not renewed before this time will go into a delinquent status.

Florida OTs now have until June 30, 2019 to complete the renewal requirements:

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Georgia-licensed Occupational Therapists (OTs) have a biennial license renewal deadline of March 31st of even-numbered years. Twenty four (24) hours of continuing education (CE) are required to renew, and effective April 1, 2018, all courses must be reported to CE Broker.

CE Broker is a continuing education tracking and management system used by accrediting organizations to electronically track CE compliance of licensees. The purpose is to ensure 100% compliance without having to perform audits. Licensees are unable to renew their licenses until they have met their CE requirements and posted the credits to CE Broker.

If a GA OT has not registered earned CE credits with CE Broker, the licensee must include all CE certificates of completion with the license renewal application or application for reinstatement.

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation approved to sponsor online continuing education (CE) for GA OTs by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and reports all course completions to CE Broker.

This course addresses the Florida Laws and Rules contained in the Florida Occupational Therapy Practice Act and the Florida Occupational Therapy Rules. The purposes of this course are to (1) provide the opportunity for a comprehensive reading of the two documents listed above, (2) ensure that Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants in the State of Florida are fully aware of the laws and rules governing the license under which they are practicing, and (3) fulfill the requirement that Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants in Florida complete each biennial renewal period two hours of continuing education relating to the Practice of Occupational Therapy. Course #21-01 | 2015 | 37 pages | 18 posttest questions

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This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. You can print the test (download test from My Courses tab of your account after purchasing) to mark your answers on it while reading the course document. Then submit online when ready to receive credit.

Professional Development Resources is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education (#3159). OT Content Focus – Professional Issues: Legal, Legislative, Regulatory, & Reimbursement Issues. This program is offered for 0.2 CEU’s. The assignment of AOTA CEU’s does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of OT Practice (#34) and is CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within 1 week of completion).

The Administration on Aging (2011) projects that the number of people over the age of 65 will double by the year 2030, when elders will represent almost 20% of the population in the United States. The aging of America is due to a shift in mortality from acute diseases to chronic, degenerative illnesses. An elder today is more likely to die of a chronic cardiac condition, for example, than acute pneumonia. Two-thirds of elders have multiple chronic medical conditions (CDC, 2013). Many elders have complex communication needs as a result of cognitive, motor, or sensory barriers. These barriers must be understood in order to facilitate communication, especially in medical settings where communication is vital for treatment (Downey & Happ, 2013).

Effective, appropriate communication with elders is important for many reasons. For occupational therapists, communication is the foundation of service delivery. Communication is required for assessment of the person prior to treatment. Symptoms are, after all, subjective and must be reported by the person to the clinician. Effective communication also contributes to health literacy; the person’s understanding of her condition, treatment options, and the treatment plan to be followed. A person cannot comply with a treatment program unless the program is communicated clearly enough for the person to understand it. The more effective the communication, the more effective treatment will be – and the more cost effective. Communication also helps the clinician understand the whole person: the emotional, social, and financial realities that affect response to treatment and ability to comply. This is the basis for a therapeutic partnership that supports the person and his family (Lubinski, 2010).

Research shows that effective interpersonal communication has a significant impact on patient satisfaction in healthcare (Power, 2012). Wilner and Feinstein-Whittaker (2013) strongly state, “All medical professionals must speak with clarity, effectiveness, credibility, confidence, and compassion.” However, communication with elders includes not just the identified patient, but also often a caregiver. This may be a spouse or an adult child. Since elders are living longer, the adult child accompanying the elder may be an elder herself. A review of caregiver “companion” studies revealed that companions regularly attended medical appointments. Companions could be helpful by providing informational support but could also be challenging when dominating the appointment (Laidsaar-Powerll, 2013). It is important to be aware of the communication dynamic during three-way communication in order to assure the elder is heard and important issues are addressed.

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. You can print the test (download test from My Courses tab of your account after purchasing) and mark your answers on while reading the course document. Then submit online when ready to receive credit. Enroll now.

CE INFORMATION

Professional Development Resources is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education (#3159). OT Content Focus – Domain of OT: Client Factors and Mental Function; OT Process: Intervention. This program is offered for 0.2 CEU’s. The assignment of AOTA CEU’s does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of OT Practice (#34). Participant successfully completed the required assessment component for this activity.

Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings. The most common workplace is schools, followed by private practice and hospitals. A growing number of occupational therapists, however, are working full or part-time in skilled nursing facilities as the population of the United States ages. Every practice setting has unique characteristics that affect clinical practice. Skilled nursing facilities have a multitude of regulations, complicated billing practices, and a culture of care that must be learned and integrated into the clinician’s treatment habits. This can make it difficult for the OT working part-time or PRN in a skilled nursing facility.

The Occupational Therapist in Long-Term Care is a new 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that will provide a framework for providing care in a skilled nursing facility. It is intended to give the OT an overview of the important aspects of long-term care that affect treatment, including the structure, organization and reimbursement system of skilled nursing facilities. The average resident and common treatment areas will also be discussed. Course #20-87 | 2014 | 28 pages | 14 posttest questions

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. You can print the test (download test from My Courses tab of your account after purchasing) and mark your answers on while reading the course document. Then submit online when ready to receive credit.

Learning Objectives:

1. List three rights of residents in long-term care

2. Describe the average skilled nursing facility resident

3. Name the top two persons in the skilled nursing facility administration structure

4. Distinguish between rehabilitation and restorative nursing

5. Describe three safety issues in long-term care

About the Authors:

Laura More, MSW, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and healthcare author. She earned her Masters of Social Work from Florida State University and has over twenty years of healthcare experience, with a focus on geriatric and head injury rehabilitation. Laura has directed case management, social service, and rehabilitation in skilled nursing, outpatient and inpatient hospital settings. She has managed long-term care rehabilitation from facility, area, and regional positions, with a strong emphasis on training and education of staff and client caregivers in the provision of care for geriatric patients in skilled nursing facilities. Laura was one of the founding partners of Care2Learn, a provider of online continuing education courses for the post-acute healthcare industry. She has authored or edited over 120 online continuing education titles, co-authored evidence-based care assessment area resources and a book, The Licensed Practical Nurse in Long-term Care Field Guide. She is the recipient of the 2010 Education Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators.

Edie Deane-Watson, MS, CCC, CCM, has served in the post-acute care industry in various capacities for 25 years. She developed and managed SNF based rehabilitation programs at the facility and regional level and was one of the founding partners of Care2Learn, a provider of online continuing education courses for the post-acute healthcare industry. In addition, she has worked in acute care, head injury, life care planning, and e-learning. She is currently the Director of Education and Training at American Health Tech, a leading provider of post-acute care integrated software.

Professional Development Resources is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education (#3159). OT Content Focus – Domain of OT: Client Factors and Mental Function; OT Process: Intervention. This program is offered for 0.2 CEU’s. The assignment of AOTA CEU’s does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of OT Practice (#34) and is CE Broker complaint.

California-licensed occupational therapists have a biennial license renewal with a birth date deadline, even years. Twenty-hour (24 PDUs) continuing education hours are required to renew a license. There are no limits on home study if AOTA approved, and a certificate of completion is required. Twelve (12 PDUs) hours of continuing education must relate directly to occupational therapy service delivery.

Professional Development Resources is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)approved provider of continuing education (#3159). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Continuing Education Requirements

Occupational therapists licensed in the state of California have a license renewal every two years with a birth date deadline, even years. Twenty-hour (24 PDUs) hours of continuing education are required for license renewal. There are no home study limits if AOTA approved, and a certificate is required. Twelve (12 PDUs) continuing education hours must relate directly to occupational therapy service delivery.

Nevada-licensed occupational therapists have an annual license renewal with a June 30th deadline. Ten (10) hours of continuing education are required to renew a license, and all ten hours are allowed from home study, and AOTA is accepted. Licensees can take any course relevant to their practice, and up to ten hours can be carried over to the next year.

Professional Development Resources is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)approved provider of continuing education (#3159). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Continuing Education Information

Occupational therapists licensed in the state of Nevada have an annual license renewal with a June 30th deadline. Ten continuing education hours are required for license renewal. All ten hours are allowed from home study, and AOTA is approved. Licensees can take any course relevant to their practice, and up to ten hours can be carried over to the following year.

North Dakota-licensed occupational therapists have a biennial license renewal with a June 30th deadline, even years. Twenty hours of continuing education are required for license renewal. There are no limits on home study if AOTA approved. Content must be relevant to practice.

Professional Development Resources is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)approved provider of continuing education (#3159). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Continuing Education Requirements

Occupational therapists licensed in the state of North Dakota have a license renewal every two years with a deadline of June 30th, even years. Twenty (20) continuing education hours are required for license renewal. There are no limits on home study if AOTA approved. Content must be relevant to practice.

North Carolina-licensed occupational therapists have an annual license renewal with a June 30th deadline. Continuing education is due by May 31st of every year. Fifteen points (hours) are required for license renewal every year. There are no limits on home study if AOTA approved, and there must be a post-test. One hour of ethics is required every other renewal or odd years.

Professional Development Resources is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) approved provider of continuing education (#3159). The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of OT Practice (#34) and is CE Broker compliant.

Continuing Education Requirements

Occupational therapists licensed in the state of North Carolina have a yearly license renewal with a deadline of June 30th. Continuing education is due by May 31st. Fifteen (15) points or hours are required every year for license renewal. There are no limits with home study if AOTA approved. There must be a post-test. One hour of ethics is required every other renewal (odd years).